Buccaneers Lose Defensive Line Coach to Detroit Lions

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff will have to replace one of their defensive coaches as Kacy Rodgers is headed to the Detroit Lions.

Mar 5, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Kacy Rodgers looks on during drills at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The offseason is now in full bloom for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they were heartbroken in the Wild Card round of the playoffs by the Washington Commanders, who are now fighting to reach a Super Bowl as they play the Eagles in the NFC Championship game.

The Buccaneers have already had a scare this offseason, as it appeared at one point that offensive coordinator Liam Coen likely was headed for a head coaching gig, but that has died down a bit after Coen declined his second interview with the Jaguars with reports that the Bucs will make him one of the highest paid coordinators in the league.

Even though Coen seems to be staying, the Buccaneers are losing one of their assistant general managers. John Spytek is expected to take the general manager role with the Las Vegas Raiders despite neither having signed their respective contracts. While the focus for Bucs fans is on those two, Tampa Bay is set to lose their longtime defensive line coach as Kacy Rodgers is expected to head to Detroit to join the Lions in the same role.

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#Bucs run game coordinator/defensive line Kacy Rodgers is expected to join the #Lions as defensive line coach, per sources.

Detroit is replacing Terrell Williams, who became Patriots DC. Rodgers has been with Todd Bowles since 2015. pic.twitter.com/QgYcDVSD45

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 23, 2025

Rodgers has spent the last six seasons manning the Buccaneers' defensive line and the past three seasons as the team's run game coordinator. He has helped develop both Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey into the players they are and has become synonymous with owning one of the best run-stopping lines in the entire league.

Before arriving in Tampa Bay, Rodgers spent time with the New York Jets as their defensive coordinator after stints with the Cowboys and Dolphins as their defensive line coach. Rodgers brings a ton of experience with him to Detroit and is looking to replace Terrell Williams, who left earlier this week to become the New England Patriots' defensive coordinator.

It is unknown at this point who the Buccaneers are eyeing to help fill the void left by Rodgers, but they will do their due diligence in making sure that they get the right guy.

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